Tatar-Bashkir Report: July 17, 2001

Shaimiev On Power-Sharing
President Mintimer Shaimiev will take part in the meeting of Russian State Council commission on power-sharing in Moscow 17 July, RFE/RL's Kazan Bureau reported. Shaimiev was quoted as saying that he didn't rule out the possibility of abolishing the power-sharing treaties between Russia and its territorial entities, "if we manage to enter all our [...] achievements into existing federal laws." He admitted that if "we were to create a democratic state, there would be hundreds of such laws, but we have to proceed on this path of civilization." But at the same time, he emphasized the "vital importance" of treaty-based relations between Kazan and Moscow, because they "gave Tatarstan a voice, something we really value." Shaimiev also noted that Tatarstan and Chechnya were the only republics not to sign the federative treaty with Russia, and "the federal center needs to pay more attention to this fact."

Siberian Tatars Leader Positive on Latinization
Khakim Sadikov, the leader of the Tatar Community leader in Omsk oblast, told RFE/RL's Kazan Bureau on 16 July that he was "surprised that transition to Latin Tatar script, being a cultural affair, is considered to be a political matter in Russia." He said that in his opinion, the majority of Tatar population supports the switchover, "which meets the requirements of modern information technologies."

Smolensk FSB Official Speaks of Muslim Threat
Regions.ru quoted Viktor Maslov, the chief of Federal Security Service branch in Smolensk oblast, as saying on 16 July that the ethnic Muslim organizations formed by Azerbaijani, Tatar, Uzbek and Chechen people living in his region, "could possibly serve as footholds for [religious] extremists plotting terrorist acts."

New Administration Head Appointed in Elmet
President Mintimer Shiamiev replaced the head of Elmet city administration Foat Komarov with the former deputy general director of Tatneft oil company Rishat Abubakirov on 16 July.

Federal Authorities Hold Stock Market Conference in Kazan
The Moscow International Currency Exchange and Nizhny Novgorod Currency-Stock Exchange representatives gathered in Kazan on 16 July to discuss the perspectives of Volga federal district's stock market, news agencies reported.

KamAZ to Produce Trucks In China
KamAZ plans to set up two assembly lines in China, strana.ru reported on 16 July. According to the plant's press service, the factories in the cities of Urumchi and Daolan will produce trucks from parts delivered directly from Chally.

Tatarstan to Launch Satellite TV
Russian Aerokosmoexport has begun preparing the satellite transmitter which is to broadcast the programs of Tatarstan's New Century TV-Radio through Eutelsat W4 from 30 August 2001, Tatarinform reported.

Russian Army to Use Kazan-Produced Footwear
The Spartak footwear factory of Kazan has won a contract to produce 130,000 pairs of army boots for the Russian defense ministry this year, Tatarstan State TV reported.

Compiled by Iskender Nurmi

President Greets Metallurgy Industry Workers
President Murtaza Rakhimov visited Uchaly on 14-15 July to celebrate Metallurgy Industry Worker's Day, his press service reported. After inspecting mines there, he told the residents of Uchali area that they had contributed to Bashkortostan's economy by maintaining high outputs.

Train Derails Near Kazayak
Fifteen cars of a freight train jumped the tracks near Kazayak on 16 July, ITAR-TASS reported. No one was hurt, but the accident took place at the same location where many were killed in a train crash in 1989.

Rakhimov Issues Decrees Intended to Improve Urban Life
President Murtaza Rakhimov has issued decrees calling for improved purification of drinking water and better ecological protection in Bashkortostan's cities, the government press service reported on 16 July.

Lands Registration Resumes
The State Committee on Land Resources has resumed its registration of land in the republic to ensure efficient use, Bashinform reported on 16 July.

Compiled by Iskender Nurmi